Challenging Patriarchy

Feminist Resilience: A Glimpse into Kenya's Gender Democracy Movement

In March, the world marked International Women's Day 2025 under the banner #AccelerateAction. Kenya is pivotal in its journey toward gender democracy, but several strides on gender justice and equality remain a mirage. Heinrich Boell Foundation, Nairobi took stock of its work in partnership with several grassroots and national organizations to spotlight the ongoing struggle through a powerful documentary titled "Feminist Resilience: What Does it mean for Justice and Democracy?" amid global crises, shrinking civic space, and shifting funding priorities.

By Faiba Kombo

Breaking Barriers: Unveiling the Link between Sexual Harassment and Young Women's Political Engagement in University Student Governments

Article

Only 24% representation in national politics, less than 10% as student body presidents. Badili Africa, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation, tackles this gap, focusing on sexual harassment's role in hindering female leadership. Their partnership with JKUAT aims to revamp sexual harassment policies, shedding light on gaps and proposing solutions. From dissecting SGBV terminology to addressing emerging e-violence, they navigate complexities, emphasizing consent's paramount role. The call to action includes holistic awareness campaigns, annual training, gender desks, investigation committees, and supporting victims in creating safe spaces.

How much more do we have to do?

Article

The consequences of patriarchy ripple through all levels and corners of society. We are aware of the consequences and unaware of others. Patriarchy is defined as a social or political system that has chosen to identify men as superior to women. This enables an unjust system that promotes violence against the latter gender in all spaces, be it at home, the workplace, streets, online or even inside religions. Patriarchy serves men with toxic entitlement towards women.

Too close for comfort? Uncovering the odious roots of ‘normalised’ dehumanisation of domestic workers

Article

Domestic workers enter the sphere of private lives of others, where they perform essential care work in conditions that are mostly unregulated and hidden from public view. In the process, they tend to face inhumane treatment. The disturbing part is that this abuse is normalised and accepted by a society that sympathises with the ‘discomfort of wealthy and middle-class people who experience ‘intruding witnesses’ in their homes.

Breaking the patriarchal norm of conformity

Article

Uganda is a predominantly patriarchal society and socioeconomic, political and cultural power are generally held by men. Although the system is slowly changing with girls and women taking up positions of power, the patriarchal systems that oppress women continue to live on.

Global Feminist Pitch 2022: Call For Application

Call for Application

The Global Feminist Pitch is back to support feminists from Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East and (South) Eastern Europe. This year we are looking for ten feminists who will write on the topic of feminist mobilisation in their region. Apply now!

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Decentralization and inclusion in Kenya

Publication

Kabarak University and Heinrich Boell Foundation published a book dubbed “Decentralisation and inclusion in Kenya: From pre-colonial times to the first decade of devolution”. The publication is a result of a research that evaluated the first era of devolution (2012 – 2022). The critical focus on devolution and its impact on minority groups.

Perspectives #01/2021: African Feminisms Across Generations

New Publication

This special edition of Perspectives reflects on, analyzes and documents the evolution of African feminisms and feminist action that African activists have taken up to address both old as well as persistent and new threats to women’s rights and gender justice. It also reflects on lessons learned from African feminist practices for current and future generations across the region.

Missing Voices Annual Report 2024 | Brutal Policing

Missing Voices documented a total of 159 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in 2024. Out of the 159 cases, 104 (65%) were incidents of police-related killings, while 55 (35%) were those of enforced disappearances. 2024 marked the year that the coalition recorded the highest number of cases of enforced disappearances. Before then, 2019 had the highest number of cases of enforced disappearances at 38.

By Missing Voices

Speech by Dr. Harun Warui, Lead Coordinator for Agroecology and Food Rights, Nairobi Office during the Bayer Annual Stockholders Meeting

By Harun Warui

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